Improved metallic lath



^ d taten @atenctfite e ISAAC y. HoL'Mns, or NEW YORK, N. Yf

Letters Patent No. 84,881-, dated December 15, 1868. l

. The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'whom it may concern o I l Be it known that I, ISAAC V. HOLMES, ofthe city andcounty of New York, in the State of New York,

letters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification, in which- Figures l, 2, 3, and 4 represent some of the diiferent forms of slits in studs, into the openings of which laths are to be received and fastened.

Figure 5 represents an end view of three laths in position, with the plaster coat spread upon them, and keyed and fastened, by -portions of the plaster having passed into the openings provided for that purpose, the stud having been removed in order to present this view.

Figure 6 represents an elevation, showing the openings in and between the laths.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. p

I construct my laths of sheet-iron, of greater or less thickness, according to the requirements of the wall as to strength, and of such length as may be cheap in the manufacture-and convenient in the use of them, and of such widths as may best secure the same. objects, and the additional objects of holding the coat of plaster and its equable and uniform drying, so as to prevent its cracking.

' I make them of uniform thickness and width, except that each lath shall be formed so much narrower at one end than at the other, as to allow that end to be slipped into -the adjoining end of the next lath, so that my laths may be spliced, in'that way, to each other'. Such' joints may be made either between the studs or at the point of being fastened to them, and when at that point, laths forming ends may be fastened to the stud bythe same operation, as hereinafter described.

I bend back equal portions of both'thc upper' and lower edges, b b, of the lath, nearly at right angles to its face, and such portions of each as will be sutlicient, when so bent back, to hold, in conjunction with the similar bent edge ofthe next adjacent lath, the plaster,

when forced between them.

The sexies 0f slits, three in each series, f f j, are made in the front edges of the studs, for the reception of -these edges, leaving proper intervals between each Then, asa further means of fastening the plaster in position, securing its equable drying, arid preventing its cracking, I make oblong rectangular openings, d d, in the lath, of such length, and at such intervals apart, as may best attain the objectsin. view.

It is done thus: :I cut or punch two slits, parallel to each other, across the face of the latin-and aswide Y, apart as the opening is intended to be long, and equidistant from the upper and lower edgesf the face of the lath; then I cntor punch a longitudinal slit in-the centre of the lath,extending from one of these crossslits to the other, and then bend back from the face of the lath each edge, e e, of the slit, just as I bend back each edge of the lath itself, as before described; and I do this, not only to make the opening for the mortar to enter, thus removing a portion of the smooth lath-surface, but also in order that these bent-back edges of the slit may aid the bent-back edges ofthe lath b b and the beaded corners, `a c a c, to key, and hold the plaster coat iirmly in place, as shown at l and e e e e, iig. 5.

v The edges of the iron studs are, of course, presented to the laths at the points where the twoedges or" adjacent laths are to be fastened upon them, and there a series of three slits is cut, j' fyjand thus the two tongues, g y, are formed.

lhe lower edge of one lath is placed in the upper slit in the stud, and the upper edge of another lath is placed in the lower slit (of same series) in the stud, and then a drift-tool or wedge is driven into the middle slit, and by one operation, and perhaps by one blow upon the tool, the edge of each lath is securely fastened, by the mere bending down upon it of the iron tongues g g,- and thus the laths are fastened upon the stud without either bolt, nail, or screw, when the tool is withdrawn.

By this, my arrangement of the laths upon the studding, they may bey placed just as far apart as may be desired, in order to make the most effectual u'se ofthe beaded corners, a c a a, and the edges, b b, and to secure the objects before mentioned.

o By my construction of my laths, and-their arrange-1 ment upon the studding, a much vlarger portion of the plaster used can be reached and dried by the air, 4011 the rear side of the coat, than by any other known or used heretofore.

The bending back the edges of the laths, and the- 4. The .metallic plates; slitted as described, when used for studs or supports for metallic sheet-latlxs, substantially as sbownand for the purpose described.

5. The arrangement and fastening of sheet-metal' laths upon metallic plates, used for studs, substantially.

in the manner and for the purpose described.

ISAAC V. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

H. C. FELTON, JOHN CANTINE. 

